Billy Butler describes the team: “25 guys as one”

AP Wire and Andrew Lynch

11 years ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lorenzo Cain looped a two-run single and Eric Hosmer chopped a two-run double over shortstop in a seven-run second inning as the Kansas City Royals battered the San Francisco Giants 10-0 Tuesday night to force a decisive Game 7 in the World Series. “That was a huge inning for us, that turned things around, guys just stepped up and started swinging the bat. You know, everyone got some clutch hits during that inning, like I say, guys just stepped up and I’m happy we were able to get that beginning,” Cain said of the second inning.

Postgame interview with Mike Moustakas after the Royals win in Game 6.

In the seventh inning, Mike Moustakas hit the first home run of the series since Game 2, which was also his franchise-record fifth homer of the postseason. Willie Mays Aikens tweeted a congratulations to Moustakas. “Congraulation to Mike Moustakas for breaking my postseason home run record for the Royals. Way to go Moose. Keep it up Brother,” Aikens said. “”It feels good. I’d rather trade it for a ring though, A World Series ring any day. We gotta go out there and play hard tomorrow and go get a W again,” Moustakas said. Pitching with the initials of late St. Louis outfielder Oscar Taveras on his cap, 23-year-old rookie Yordano Ventura allowed three hits over seven innings for his first Series win. Ventura said he’s grieving the loss of his friend, but knows he’d proud of his performance in Game 6. “If he was still here, I would for sure be talking to him, and Oscar would be very happy for me and very proud. Oscar was a very humble guy and very likeable, and I’m going to miss him a lot. I’m grieving and I want to send my best thoughts to his family,” Ventura said. A sharp Ventura was aided by the offense that scored as many runs in that second inning as the team did in games 3-5 in San Francisco. In that second inning, the Royals sent 11 batters to the plate, which lasted more than 30 minutes and ended with seven runs. Among them: Billy Butler, who sat on the bench in San Francisco. He doubled to right-center to make it 7-0. “Everyone in here’s fightin’ for each other next to him. I think that’s what makes us a dangerous team. I think that’s the reason we’re where we’re at. We have the extremely high confidence in the guy next to them and we’re out there playing for each other. Twenty-five guys as one,” Butler said. Left fielder Alex Gordon was impressed with the way the team carried itself following the losses in Games 4 and 5. “I loved the clubhouse today. I came in, it felt like a regular season game, no pressure, everybody was pretty loose. I think it kind of showed out there today, so I was really proud of how we handled ourselves today, it was a good game,” Gordon said. Jeremy Guthrie starts Wednesday night for Kansas City and Tim Hudson for San Francisco in a rematch of Game 3, won by Kansas City 3-2. The 39-year-old Hudson will become the oldest Game 7 starter in Series history. Lurking is Madison Bumgarner, ready to pitch in relief after stifling the Royals on a total of one run in winning Games 1 and 5. Regardless of who is on the mound, first baseman Eric Hosmer says he’s ready for the moment. “It’s Game 7, it’s everything on the line and this is what we all prepare for, this is why you play the game,” he said.

11 years ago

Machi limits the damage to one run in the fifth by getting Hosmer to strike out, but the Royals pad the lead with another run and the score is 9-0 in KC’s favor. Royals have 14 hits so far tonight.

11 years ago

Crawford makes a dandy play, going to his right on a chopper and looking Escobar back to third, then guns Cain out at first for the second out.

11 years ago

Aoki with a productive out, slapping the ball to the right side to advance Escobar to third.

11 years ago

Escobar doubles to left, Infante rolls through a stop sign at third and is safe at home with a head first slide. Royals lead 9-0.

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Infante continues the Royals attack with the bats by shooting a single to left field.

11 years ago

Crawford and Blanco mimic one another with ground outs to first, and the Giants are done in the fifth.

11 years ago

Ventura freezes Ishikawa with a 99-mph heater for the first out of the fifth. He did a good job changing speeds, mixing in a changeup and low-90s fastball before the called third strike.

11 years ago

Moustakas with a deep drive to center, but Blanco tacks it down to end the inning. Headed to the fifth, Royals with a comfortable 8-0 lead.

11 years ago

Perez hustles down the line and is rewarded with an infield single as Belt can’t field a throw in the dirt from Sandoval.

11 years ago

Butler pops out and Gordon strikes out, Royals hitters cooling off a bit after slugging their way through the last two innings.

11 years ago

Ventura gets Morse to bounce out to short, and the Giants’ brief fourth-inning concludes with the Royals still ahead 8-0. Ventura was much sharper that inning, only needed 12 pitches to retire the side.

11 years ago

Sandoval and Pence only see 4 pitches before they’re retired in the fourth. Moustakas makes a nice play ground ball hit by Belt, but his throw sails and the inning goes on.

11 years ago

Cain sends a shot over the head of Blanco in center that bounces up over the wall scoring another run for the Royals, it’s now 8-0.

11 years ago

Escobar ground out to the pitcher, but Machi can’t get out of the inning immediately after issuing a four-pitch walk to Aoki. Two on for Cain.

11 years ago

Moustakas grounds out meekly to the right side, but Infante follows with a double to left. Every Royals hitter now has a hit in Game 6.

11 years ago

Posey jumps at the first pitch and bounces into a double play spearheaded by Escobar and the threat is extinguished. Jean Machi coming into the game for the Giants in the bottom of the third.

11 years ago

Ventura issues his third-straight walk to load the bases, bringing up Buster Posey with only one out.

11 years ago

A little history repeating?! http://nxstrib-com-staging.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/hopeso.jpeg?w=770

11 years ago

Ventura a little shaky and issues back-to-back walks after getting the leadoff man out. The bottom of the second may have something to do with it, as Ventura sat for a long time while the Royals put a crooked number up on the scoreboard.

11 years ago

Back-to-back doubles by Hosmer and Butler push the Royals advantage to 7-0. KC rally ends, but they are in control of Game 6.

11 years ago

Cain advances to second on a wild pitch, two in scoring position and the Giants draw the infield in, 1-2 count to Hosmer.

11 years ago

Cain gets jammed, but muscles a single to center field to score two and put men on the corners for Hosmer. Still only one out in the inning.

11 years ago

Petit has pitched 12 innings in the postseason, and has only allowed 4 hits. The Royals had 5 hits tonight off of Jake Peavy.

11 years ago

On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Aoki sneaks a ground ball to the outfield to score Perez. That will do it for Jake Peavy, who gets the hook with the bases loaded full of Royals and KC leading 2-0.

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Escobar bounces softly to first, Belt looks Perez back to third, but Escobar beats him to first. Bases loaded for Aoki.

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Infante doesn’t see a single strike, but swings at three pitches well off the plate to strike out for the first out of the inning.

11 years ago

Moose hits a double down the line, scoring Gordon and moving Perez to third. KC breaks its scoreless streak and leads 1-0.